Mr. Hampdens' Speech occasioned upon the Londoners Petition for PEACE.  
BUt will you now to peace incline,  
And languish in the main design,  
and leave us in the lurch;  
I would not Monarchy destroy,  
But only as the way t'enjoy  
the ruins of the Church.  
Is not the Bishop's Bill denied,  
And we still threatened to be tried?  
you see the King embraces  
Those counsels he approved before,  
Nor does he promise which is more  
that we shall have their places.  
Did I for this bring in the Scot,  
(For'tis no secret now) the plot  
was S●y's and mine together;  
Did I for this return again?  
And spent a winter then in vain  
once more t'invite them hither.  
Though more our money then our cause  
Their brotherly assistance draws  
my labour was not lost▪  
At my return I brought you thence  
Necessity, their strong pretence,  
and this shall quit your cost  
Did I for this my Country bring,  
To help their Knight against their King,  
and raise the first division;  
Yet I the business did decline  
Though I contrived the whole design,  
and taught them to petition.  
So many nights spent in the City  
In that invisible Committee,  
the wheel that governs all;  
From thence the change in Church & State  
And all the mischiefs bears their date  
from haberdasher's Hall.  
Did we force Ireland to despair?  
Upon the King to cast the war  
to make the world abhor him;  
Because the Rebels used his name,  
Though we ourselves can do the same  
while both alike are for him.  
Then the same fire we kindled here  
whilst we pretend to quench that there,  
and wisely lost that Nation;  
To do as crafty beggars use  
To maine themselves only t'abuse  
the simple man's compassion.  
Have I so often past between  
Windsor and Westminster unseen?  
and did myself divide,  
To keep his Excellence in awe,  
And give the Parliament the Law,  
for they knew none beside.  
Did I for this take pains to teach  
Our zealous ignorance to preach,  
and did their lungs inspire  
Read'em their texts, showed them their parts  
And taught them all their little arts  
to fling abroad the fire  
Sometimes to beg, sometimes to threaten?  
Then say the Cayaliers are beaten,  
and struck the people's ears▪  
And straight when victories grow cheap,  
And will no more advance the heap  
to raise the price of fears▪  
And now the books, and now the bells,  
And now our arts the Preacher tells  
to edify the people;  
All our Divinity is news,  
And we have made of equal use  
the pulpit and the steeple.  
And shall we kindle all this flame  
Only to put it out again,  
and must we now give o'er,  
And only end where we begun,  
In vain this mischief we have done  
if we can do no more.  
If men in peace may have their right,  
Where is this necessity to fight  
and break both law and oath?  
Who say that they fight for the cause,  
And to defend the King and laws,  
but'tis against them both.  
Either the cause at first was ill,  
Or being good it is so still,  
and thence they will infer  
That either now, or at the first  
They were dceived, or which is worst  
that we ourselves may err.  
But plague and famine will come in,  
For they and we are near of kin,  
and cannot go asunder▪  
For while the wicked starve indeed,  
The Saints have ready at their need  
God's providence and plunder.  
Princes we are if we prevail,  
And gallant villains if we fail  
when to our fame 'tis told,  
It will not be our least of praise  
When our new state we could not raise  
we have destroyed the old.  
Then let us slay, fight, and vote  
Till London be not worth a groat,  
oh 'tis a patient Beast,  
When we have galed and tired that mule▪  
And can no longer have the rule▪  
we'll have our spoil at least.  
FINIS.